Monitor

ABSTRACT

A monitor is disclosed, in which R/G/B signals provided from a video source are compensated to adapt to the color reproduction of the monitor, thereby obtaining the best picture quality. The monitor includes a video source for outputting one video signal, a color compensator for detecting characteristics of the video signal output from the video source and for comparing the detected characteristics with display characteristics of the monitor to compensate the color of the video signal, a video processor for processing the video signal output from the color compensator, and a display for displaying the video signal output from the video processor.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a monitor enabling to realize an optimal image quality by compensating an R/G/B signal transmitted from a video source so as to be suitable for a color reproduction characteristic of a monitor.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Generally, a monitor mainly includes a video processing circuit and a display device such as CRT (cathode ray tube), LCD (liquid crystal display), PDP (plasma display panel), or the like. CRT has been mainly used so far owing to the advantages in aspect of price and resolution. Yet, LCD expands abruptly in market in aspect of space-saving and various functions in accordance with digital signal processing.

[0003] A monitor receives horizontal/vertical synchronization signals (HSYNC/VSYNC) and an R/G/B video signal so as to display a corresponding video, and carries out various information interface such as EDID (extended display identification data) and the like with the video source through DDC (display data channel), i.e. SDA (serial data line)/SCL (serial clock line). Moreover, data communication between the monitor and video source is possible when two-way communication enabling standards such as USB (universal serial bus), IEEE 1394, and the like are applied thereto.

[0004] In this case, EDID includes various display characteristic information of the display device of the monitor such as white gamma value, R/G/B chromaticity, R/G/B gamma value, brightness, and current value.

[0005] A monitor according to a related art, as shown in FIG. 1, includes a microcomputer 11 such as PC, workstation, or the like performing operation & information processing, grasping a display format of an input video by analyzing frequency information of a horizontal/vertical synchronization signal outputted from a video source 1 generating a video to display a corresponding processing matter on a screen through a video card inside, and outputting a control signal so that an R/G/B video signal transmitted from the video source 1 is signal-processed as a form corresponding to a factory mode closest to the corresponding display format, a video processing unit 12 signal-processing the R/G/B video signal transmitted from the video source 1 to be suitable for the corresponding display format in accordance with the control signal of the microcomputer 11, and a CRT 13 displaying an outputs of the video processing unit 12 on the screen.

[0006] Operation of the monitor according to the related art is explained as follows.

[0007] First of all, the video source 1 of a computer system transmits the horizontal/vertical synchronization and R/G/B video signals to the monitor 2.

[0008] The microcomputer 11 of the monitor 2 grasps the format of the input video in accordance with a frequency of the horizontal/vertical synchronization signal, and controls the video processing unit 12 so that the input video is displayed as the factory mode closest to the video format among factory modes set up previously in the monitor 2.

[0009] Subsequently, the video processing unit 12 carries out an image processing such as amplification and the like on the input video to be suitable for the factory mode set up by the microcomputer 11, and then displays the image-processed input video through the CRT 13.

[0010] In this case, when the R/G/B signal outputted from the video card of the video source 1 is displayed on the monitor 2, a color that the video card demands to realize is different from a color displayed on the CRT 13 as a display device of the real monitor 2. Besides, the color differs in manufactures of the CRT 13. For instance, an R/G/B ratio outputted from the video card to realize white is different from that for realizing white in the

[0011] CRT 13.

[0012] This is because each CRT 13 has an intrinsic color reproduction characteristic. Such a difference of the color reproduction characteristic is not limited to CRT but includes LCD or PDP.

[0013] Unfortunately, the monitor according to the related art fails to implement a demanded color due to the color reproduction characteristic of the applied display device and the color reproduction characteristic difference from the video card. Besides, the color difference occurs between the products of CRT.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0014] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a monitor that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

[0015] An object of the present invention is to provide a monitor enabling to implement an optimal image quality by compensating a video signal, which is transmitted from a video source, to be fit for a color reproduction characteristic of the monitor.

[0016] Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims thereof as well as the appended drawings.

[0017] To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, a monitor includes a video source outputting a video signal, a color correction unit detecting a characteristic of the video signal outputted from the video source and correcting a color of the video signal by comparing the detected characteristic of the video signal to a display characteristic of the monitor, a video processing unit carrying out a video processing on the color-corrected video signal outputted from the color correction unit, and a display unit displaying the video signal outputted from the video processing unit.

[0018] Preferably, the display unit is selected from a group consisting of CRT (cathode ray tube), LCD (liquid crystal display), and PDP (plasma display panel).

[0019] Preferably, the video signal detected by the color correction unit is a signal video-processed through the video processing unit.

[0020] Preferably, the video signal detected by the color correction unit is a full white signal and a partial white signal.

[0021] Preferably, a characteristic information of the video signal detected by the color correction unit includes at least one selected from a group consisting of R/G/B brightness, current, and voltage data.

[0022] Preferably, the display characteristic information of the monitor is included in EDID (extended display identification data).

[0023] Preferably, the color correction unit includes an A/D conversion unit converting an analog reference video signal for color correction to be video-processed through the video processing unit into a digital reference video signal, a memory unit storing the display characteristic information of the monitor and the digital reference video signal outputted from the A/D conversion unit, an R/G/B voltage ratio operation unit calculating an R/G/B voltage ratio of the digital reference video signal outputted from the A/D conversion unit, an R/G/B white gamma operation unit calculating an R/G/B white gamma value of the reference video signal using the R/G/B voltage ratio calculated by the R/G/B voltage ratio operation unit and the monitor display characteristic information stored in the memory unit, a gamma difference operation unit calculating a difference between the R/G/B white gamma value of the reference video signal outputted from the R/G/B white gamma operation unit and the R/G/B white gamma value included in the monitor characteristic information stored in the memory unit, a D/A conversion unit converting an output of the gamma difference operation unit into analog, and an adder unit overlapping the gamma difference value outputted from the D/A conversion unit with the video signal outputted from the video source for color correction so as to output the overlapped result to the video processing unit.

[0024] To further achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, a monitor includes a video source outputting a video signal, a microcomputer requesting the video source to transmit a video signal for color correction in accordance with a user's color correction request, a color correction unit detecting a characteristic of the video signal outputted from the video source, the color correction unit comparing the detected characteristic of the video signal to a display characteristic of the monitor so as to calculate a color correction value in accordance with a characteristic difference between the detected and display characteristics, the color correction unit correcting a color of the video signal in accordance with the color correction value, a video processing unit carrying out a video processing on the color-corrected video signal outputted from the color correction unit, and a display unit displaying the video signal outputted from the video processing unit.

[0025] Preferably, a characteristic information of the video signal detected by the color correction unit includes at least one selected from a group consisting of R/G/B brightness, current, and voltage data.

[0026] Preferably, the display characteristic information of the monitor is included in EDD (extended display identification data).

[0027] Preferably, the display characteristic of the monitor is stored in the microcomputer or the microcomputer and color correction unit in common.

[0028] More preferably, the microcomputer transmits the display characteristic information to the color correction emit at a color correction mode when the display characteristic of the monitor is stored in the microcomputer only.

[0029] To further achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, a monitor includes a microcomputer requesting a video source to transmit a reference video signal for color correction in accordance with a selection of a display mode for user's color correction so as to output a control signal to perform a video processing of the reference video signal outputted from the video source or a general video signal outputted from the video source, a video processing unit carrying out the video processing on the general or reference video signal outputted from the video source in accordance with the control signal outputted from the microcomputer, a display unit displaying an output of the video processing unit on a screen, and a color correction unit detecting a characteristic information of the reference video signal video-processed through the video processing unit, the color correction unit comparing the detected characteristic information to a display characteristic information of the monitor so as to calculate a compensation value in accordance with a display characteristic difference from the video source, and the color correction unit overlapping the compensation value with the general video signal outputted from the video source so as to output the overlapped value to the video processing unit.

[0030] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.

[0032] In the drawings:

[0033]FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a monitor according to a related art;

[0034]FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of a monitor according to the present invention; and

[0035]FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of a color correction unit in FIG. 2.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0036] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

[0037]FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of a monitor according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of a color correction unit in FIG. 2.

[0038] Referring to FIG. 2, a monitor according to the present invention includes a microcomputer 210 requesting a video source 100 to transmit a general video signal or a reference signal in accordance with a selection from a group consisting of a user's general display mode (ex. 1024*768, 800*600, etc.) and a color correction display mode (ex. full white, 70*70 white, etc.) through the above-mentioned two-way communication system (DDC, USB, IEEE 1394) and then outputting a control signal to perform a processing of the video signal outputted from the video source 100, a video processing unit 220 carrying out a video processing on the general or reference video signal outputted from the video source 100 in accordance with the control signal outputted from the microcomputer 210, a CRT 230 displaying an output of the video processing unit 220 on a screen, and a color correction unit 240 detecting a characteristic information of the reference video signal video-processed through the video processing unit 220, comparing the detected characteristic information to a display characteristic information (EDID) of the CRT 230 so as to calculate a compensation value in accordance with a display characteristic difference from the video source, and overlapping the compensation value with the general video signal outputted from the video source 100 so as to output the overlapped value to the video processing unit 220.

[0039] In this case, the color correction unit 240 includes an A/D conversion unit 242 converting an analog R/G/B signal, which is inputted sequentially according to a full white mode and a partial white mode video-processed through the video processing unit 220, into digital, a memory unit 241 comprising a register for storing an output value of the A/D conversion unit 242, an R/G/B voltage ratio operation unit 243 calculating a voltage ratio of a digital R/G/B signal according to the full white mode and partial white mode outputted from the A/D conversion unit 242, an R/G/B white gamma operation unit 244 calculating an R/G/B white gamma value using an R/G/B voltage ratio calculated by the R/G/B voltage ratio operation unit 243 and brightness and current data in EDID stored in the memory unit 241, a gamma difference operation unit 245 calculating a difference between the R/G/B white gamma value and a monitor R/G/B white gamma value in EDID stored in the memory unit 241, a D/A conversion unit 246 converting an output of the gamma difference operation unit 245 into analog, and an adder unit 247 overlapping an output of the D/A conversion unit 246 with the R/G/B signal outputted from the video source 100 so as to output the overlapped result to the video processing unit 229.

[0040] Color correction of the above-constituted monitor according to the present invention is explained in detail as follows.

[0041] First of all, the monitor 200 is connected to the video source 100 through an R/G/B signal line and DDC (SDA/SCL), and power is applied to the monitor. The microcomputer 210 of the monitor 200 then transmits EDID to both of the video source 100 through the DDC and the memory unit 241 of the color correction unit 240.

[0042] Subsequently, the microcomputer 210 requests the video source 100 to transmit the reference video signal (R/G/B signal) according to first and second display modes to carry out color correction. In this case, the first and second display modes are available for various formats differing in screen sizes. For instance, let's assume that the first display mode is the full white mode displaying a full screen with white and that the second display mode is the 70*70 white mode displaying a partial screen with white.

[0043] Therefore, the video source transmits sequentially the R/G/B signal according to the full white mode and the reference video signal according to the 70*70 white mode.

[0044] First of all, the R/G/B signal according to the full white mode is video-processed through the video processing unit 220 so as to be fed back to the color correction unit 240, and converted into digital through the A/D conversion unit 242 of the color correction unit 240 so as to be stored in the R/G/B voltage ratio operation unit 243 and memory unit 241. Successively, the R/G/B signal according to the 70*70 white mode is video-processed through the video processing unit 220 so as to be fed back to the color correction unit 240, and converted into digital through the A/D conversion unit 242 of the color correction unit 240 so as to be stored in the R/G/B voltage ratio operation unit 243 and memory unit 241.

[0045] Therefore, the R/G/B voltage operation unit 243 calculates a voltage ratio between the R/G/B signals according to the full and 70*70 white modes stored in the memory unit 241 so as to output the calculated voltage ratio to the R/G/B white gamma operation unit 244.

[0046] [Formula 1]

[0047] White gamma={Log (B2/B1)/Log (A2/A1)}/{Log}A1/A2)/Log (V1/V2)}, where B1, B2, A1, A2, V1, and V2 are brightness of full white mode, brightness of 70*70 white mode, current of full white mode, current of 70*70 white mode, voltage of full white mode, and voltage of 70*70 white mode, respectively.

[0048] Subsequently, the R/G/B white gamma operation unit 244 applies a voltage ratio V1/V2 outputted from the R/G/B voltage ratio operation unit 243 and monitor brightness B1 and B2 and current values A1 and A2 stored in the memory unit 241 to Formula 1, i.e. white gamma calculation formula, so as to calculate am R/G/B white gamma value. The R/G/B white gamma operation unit 244 then outputs the calculated R/G/B white gamma value to the gamma difference operation unit 245.

[0049] And, the gamma difference operation unit 245 calculates a difference between the R/G/B white gamma value outputted from the R/G/B white gamma operation unit 244 and a monitor white gamma value in EDID stored in the memory unit 241 so as to output the calculated difference to the A/D conversion unit 246.

[0050] Subsequently, the A/D conversion unit 246 converts the gamma difference value outputted from the gamma difference operation unit 245 into analog so as to output the converted gamma difference value to the adder unit 247.

[0051] And, the adder unit 247 overlaps the analog-converted gamma difference value with the R/G/B signal outputted from the video source 100 so as to output the white gamma compensated R/G/B signal to the video processing unit 220.

[0052] The video processing unit 220 then video-processes the R/G/B signal outputted from the adder unit 247 so as to display the video-processed R/G/B signal through the CRT 230.

[0053] Therefore, the video displayed through the CRT 230 is optimized as a demanded color to be realized since the color characteristic difference from the video source 100 is corrected.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0054] Accordingly, the monitor according to the present invention displays precisely the demanded color to be implemented regardless of color implementation characteristics of various video sources by compensating the color characteristic error with the video source due to fluorescent material characteristics. Therefore, the present invention enables to optimize the image quality. Moreover, the present invention standardizes color representation capability of all monitors belonging to the same product group, thereby enabling to maximize a reliance of the product.

[0055] While the present invention has been described and illustrated herein with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention that come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A monitor comprising: a video source outputting a video signal; a color correction unit detecting a characteristic of the video signal outputted from the video source and correcting a color of the video signal by comparing the detected characteristic of the video signal to a display characteristic of the monitor; a video processing unit carrying out a video processing on the color-corrected video signal outputted from the color correction unit; and a display unit displaying the video signal outputted from the video processing unit.
 2. The monitor of claim 1, wherein the display unit is selected from a group consisting of CRT (cathode ray tube), LCD (liquid crystal display), and PDP (plasma display panel).
 3. The monitor of claim 1, wherein the video signal detected by the color correction unit is a signal video-processed through the video processing unit.
 4. The monitor of claim 1, wherein the video signal detected by the color correction unit is a full white signal and a partial white signal.
 5. The monitor of claim 1, wherein a characteristic information of the video signal detected by the color correction unit includes at least one selected from a group consisting of R/G/B brightness, current, and voltage data.
 6. The monitor of claim 1, wherein the display characteristic information of the monitor is included in EDID (extended display identification data).
 7. The monitor of claim 1, the color correction unit comprising: an A/D conversion unit converting an analog reference video signal for color correction to be video-processed through the video processing unit into a digital reference video signal; a memory unit storing the display characteristic information of the monitor and the digital reference video signal outputted from the A/D conversion unit; an R/G/B voltage ratio operation unit calculating an R/G/B voltage ratio of the digital reference video signal outputted from the A/D conversion unit; an R/G/B white gamma operation unit calculating an R/G/B white gamma value of the reference video signal using the R/G/B voltage ratio calculated by the R/G/B voltage ratio operation unit and the monitor display characteristic information stored in the memory unit; a gamma difference operation unit calculating a difference between the R/G/B white gamma value of the reference video signal outputted from the R/G/B white gamma operation unit and the R/G/B white gamma value included in the monitor characteristic information stored in the memory unit; a D/A conversion unit converting an output of the gamma difference operation unit into analog; and an adder unit overlapping the gamma difference value outputted from the D/A conversion unit with the video signal outputted from the video source for color correction so as to output the overlapped result to the video processing unit.
 8. A monitor comprising: a video source outputting a video signal; a microcomputer requesting the video source to transmit a video signal for color correction in accordance with a user's color correction request; a color correction unit detecting a characteristic of the video signal outputted from the video source, the color correction unit comparing the detected characteristic of the video signal to a display characteristic of the monitor so as to calculate a color correction value in accordance with a characteristic difference between the detected and display characteristics, and the color correction unit correcting a color of the video signal in accordance with the color correction value; a video processing unit carrying out a video processing on the color-corrected video signal outputted from the color correction unit; and a display unit displaying the video signal outputted from the video processing unit.
 9. The monitor of claim 8, wherein the display unit is selected from a group consisting of CRT (cathode ray tube), LCD (liquid crystal display), and PDP (plasma display panel).
 10. The monitor of claim 8, wherein the video signal detected by the color correction unit is a signal video-processed through the video processing unit.
 11. The monitor of claim 8, wherein the video signal detected by the color correction unit is a full white signal and a partial white signal.
 12. The monitor of claim 8, wherein a characteristic information of the video signal detected by the color correction unit includes at least one selected from a group consisting of R/G/B brightness, current, and voltage data.
 13. The monitor of claim 8, wherein the display characteristic information of the monitor is included in EDID (extended display identification data).
 14. The monitor of claim 8, wherein the display characteristic of the monitor is stored in the microcomputer or the microcomputer and color correction unit in common.
 15. The monitor of claim 14, wherein the microcomputer transmits the display characteristic information to the color correction unit at a color correction mode when the display characteristic of the monitor is stored in the microcomputer only.
 16. The monitor of claim 8, the color correction unit comprising: an A/D conversion unit converting an analog reference video signal for color correction to be video-processed through the video processing unit into a digital reference video signal; a memory unit storing the display characteristic information of the monitor and the digital reference video signal outputted from the A/D conversion unit; an R/G/B voltage ratio operation unit calculating an R/G/B voltage ratio of the digital reference video signal outputted from the A/D conversion unit; an R/G/B white gamma operation unit calculating an R/G/B white gamma value of the reference video signal using the R/G/B voltage ratio calculated by the R/G/B voltage ratio operation unit and the monitor display characteristic information stored in the memory unit; a gamma difference operation unit calculating a difference between the R/G/B white gamma value of the reference video signal outputted from the R/G/B white gamma operation unit and the R/G/B white gamma value included in the monitor characteristic information stored in the memory unit; a D/A conversion unit converting an output of the gamma difference operation unit into analog; and an adder unit overlapping the gamma difference value outputted from the D/A conversion unit with the video signal outputted from the video source for color correction so as to output the overlapped result to the video processing unit.
 17. A monitor comprising: a microcomputer requesting a video source to transmit a reference video signal for color correction in accordance with a selection of a display mode for user's color correction so as to output a control signal to perform a video processing of the reference video signal outputted from the video source or a general video signal outputted from the video source; a video processing unit carrying out the video processing on the general or reference video signal outputted from the video source in accordance with the control signal outputted from the microcomputer; a display unit displaying an output of the video processing unit on a screen; and a color correction unit detecting a characteristic information of the reference video signal video-processed through the video processing unit, the color correction unit comparing the detected characteristic information to a display characteristic information of the monitor so as to calculate a compensation value in accordance with a display characteristic difference from the video source, and the color correction unit overlapping the compensation value with the general video signal outputted from the video source so as to output the overlapped value to the video processing unit.
 18. The monitor of claim 17, wherein the display characteristic information of the monitor is included in EDID (extended display identification data) and the characteristic information of the reference video signal includes R/G/B brightness, current, and voltage data.
 19. The monitor of claim 8, wherein the video signal detected by the color correction unit is a full white signal and a partial white signal.
 20. The monitor of claim 17, the color correction unit comprising: an A/D conversion unit converting an analog reference video signal for color correction to be video-processed through the video processing unit into a digital reference video signal; a memory unit storing the display characteristic information of the monitor and the digital reference video signal outputted from the A/D conversion unit; an R/G/B voltage ratio operation unit calculating an R/G/B voltage ratio of the digital reference video signal outputted from the A/D conversion unit; an R/G/B white gamma operation unit calculating an R/G/B white gamma value of the reference video signal using the R/G/B voltage ratio calculated by the R/G/B voltage ratio operation unit and the monitor display characteristic information stored in the memory unit; a gamma difference operation unit calculating a difference between the R/G/B white gamma value of the reference video signal outputted from the R/G/B white gamma operation unit and the R/G/B white gamma value included in the monitor characteristic information stored in the memory unit; a D/A conversion unit converting an output of the gamma difference operation unit into analog; and an adder unit overlapping the gamma difference value outputted from the D/A conversion unit with the video signal outputted from the video source for color correction so as to output the overlapped result to the video processing unit. 